Posted 11/06/2007 05:46:00 PM by Douglas

Who could have possibly imagine that a building like this might have some trouble keeping out rainwater? The braintrust at MIT didn't, because they're now suing the architect.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has filed a negligence suit against world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, charging that flaws in his design of the $300 million Stata Center in Cambridge, one of the most celebrated works of architecture unveiled in years, caused leaks to spring, masonry to crack, mold to grow, and drainage to back up.

The suit says that MIT paid Los Angeles-based Gehry Partners $15 million to design the Stata Center, which was hailed by critics as innovative and eye-catching with its unconventional walls and radical angles. But soon after its completion in spring 2004, the center's outdoor amphitheater began to crack due to drainage problems, the suit says. Snow and ice cascaded dangerously from window boxes and other projecting roof areas, blocking emergency exits and damaging other parts of the building, according to the suit. Mold grew on the center's brick exterior, the suit says, and there were persistent leaks throughout the building.

Well MIT, I say you got what you wanted. A square roof would have held back rain and mold for hundreds of years, but you wanted a cute, kitschy building with a brand name on it. Enjoy!